|
|
Article: Tiny problems: Spain in North Africa. (Morocco campaigns to take over North African cities of Melilla and Ceuta, which were annexed by Spain)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- October 4, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
MADRID
MOST of the citizens of Melilla, a Spanish outpost on the coast of North Africa, felt slighted that neither King Juan Carlos nor Spain's prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, saw fit in September to come and celebrate their annexation by Castile 500 years ago.
For Morocco, their absence was a small victory in a long campaign to take over the 12 square kilometres of Melilla and its 65,000 people, along with its sister-city of Ceuta, which is just a shade bigger in size and population. The issue unites even those Moroccan politicians who oppose King Hassan. Almost all of them took part in protests against the anniversary. Morocco views the territories as ...